The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-27
A DEFICIT ON THE MAILS.
THE SERVICE WILL SOON BE-
COME ELF-SUSTAINING.

Last Years Receipts $5,492,62O Less
Than the Expenditures-Th Re-
ceipts Increased ILL Per Cent. and
the Expenses Only ga Per Cent,
Over the Previous Year.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-The report of
the Third Assistant Postmaster General for
the last fiscal year shows that the total Or
dinary postal revenue of the year was
SIS, llS,273 The revenue from the money
order business was $719.336, making total
of $4S, 1854, 500. The total expenditures for
the year, including actual and estimated
outstanding liabilities, amounted to $685.
lSS, ,252, showing deficit in the revenue of
$4,295,64S.
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILLS. :.
In addition to this there was certified to
the Secretary of the Treasury, for credit
to the Pacific Railroad Companies in their
account with the government, being the
amount earned by them in carrying mails,
81, ,lS7 ,027, SO that the total excess of the
cost of the postal service over its revenues
was $5,4S2,620.
RATIO OF THE INCREASE.
The receipts of the year were Ill per
cent. greater than those of the previous
a ratio of but three-fourths per cent. If
these rates should continue during the cur
rent year, at its close the postal service will
be practically again on self-sustainiug
basis. So heavy an increase in the revenue,
however, says the report, is not to be reason
ably expected The estimate is that the
receipts will lncPease at the ratio of 8 per
cent. during the current year, and at the
ratio of s per cent during next, so that by
10 aY1h Nft thel latf tlaI a -
enues and expenses will not be far apart.
SPECIAL DELIVERIES.
The special delivery system has made a
considerable advance during the year, the
figures indicating an increase of probably
II per cent. over the previous year.
Attention is called to the sub-agency for
the distribution of postal cards and stamped
envelopes, established during the year at
Chicago. This agency has not only worked
WELL but it has saved a very considerable
amount to the government. A recommen-
dation is made for two other similar agen-
cies at st. Louis, Mo-, and Atlanta, Ga.
REGISTERED MATTER.
The number of pieces of matter registered
during the year at all post offices was
1884, ,421, the fees paid on which amounted
to 81 ,0A ,676. This is an increase of 6.5 per
cent. over the business of the previous year,
As of convenience in connection with the
admission of newspapers and periodicals to
the mails as second class matter, and in the
Investigations of inspectors, a recommenda-
tion is made that in all cases where oaths
are required in the transaction of postal
business postmasters be authorized to ad
minister them.
SHOULD BE STAMPED
Three important recommendations are
also made as to the manner of the collection
of postage on second class matter and as to
abuses which spring from defects in the
present law. The first of these is that post
age on all second class matter shall be paid
by the attachment of adhesive stamps as is
required for all other mail matter, the de-
nominations running from one-eighth of a
cent in the case of single pieces to any re-
quired amount for bulk matter.
NOT PERIODICALS.
The second is that only legitimate news
papers and periodicals he admitted to the
second-class rate of postage. In other
words, that certain books, which it Is
claimed are in no sense periodicals, except
that they profess to be issued at regular Pc
riods, such as numerous serials, Libraries,
ETC.. be admitted only at the third-class rate.
SAMPLE COPIES.
The third is that the number Of sample
copies of second-class matter to be sent out
by publishers be limited, many periodicals,
it is stated which under the law now gain
admittance as second class matter being en-
abled by the privilege of mailing sample
copies, to defeat the law excluding publica-
tions issued for advertising purposes or at
the nominal price of subscription.